A public spat over siting a Tommy statue at Shillingstone war memorial has resurfaced a fascinating story of the village’s contribution in the First World War.

The story goes that during the first six months of the war, there was a prize for the village that sent the highest proportion of its men to join the services.
It was won by a village in Kent, with Shillingstone as runner-up. But the village vicar objected on the grounds that the winner had only six houses and was therefore a hamlet.

After reconsideration, Shillingstone was awarded the title of ‘The Bravest Village in England’ and a letter of praise was sent by King George V.
The story’s re-emergence came in a Facebook post over whether a Tommy – the silhouette of a silent solider now common in many villages – should be permanently sited at the memorial or just during the remembrance months of October and November.

Parish councillor Ian Suter posted: “At the parish council meeting we had representation from each side of the argument, together with further suggestions on how Shillingstone could improve or maintain the memorial, how we remember our heroes and celebrate more our label of ‘Bravest Village in Britain’.”

Pauline Batson, Dorset County councillor for the Blackmore Vale, responded to the debate and also asked how Shillingstone got the title: many contributors then chipped in.
According to Paul Field, the village population in 1914 was 563, of which 90 enlisted in the first week.

(According to Historic England, the figures are that 99 men volunteered out of a total population of 565). It is believed that 25 didn’t return to Shillingstone, said Chris Hawkins.
The village’s contribution was recognised after the war by the award of a German field gun and carriage, with the Ministry of Defence helping pay for its transport and installation.
There is no record of what happened to the King’s letter, but Andrew Vickers informed readers that there is a framed article about the episode inside the church.

“The village was awarded a cash prize, a captured German field gun and a gold filigree processional cross,” he said. “The gun, which was a war memorial in its own right, was given up for scrap iron and the processional cross was broken when it was dropped.
“The church wardens made enquiries with the goldsmiths who made it in London to see if it could be repaired. The answer was ‘yes, bring the pieces and we’ll fix it for free’.
“A church warden set off with the cross in his briefcase (imagine a character as dozy as Pte Godfrey in Dad’s Army). He boarded a train, put the briefcase on the luggage rack, sat down and went to sleep. He awoke at Waterloo and the case had been stolen. At no stage has any attempt been made to replace the cross.”

The parish council is now seeking feedback from the village, both on the permanency of Tommy “as well as understanding the enthusiasm for further activities and/or monuments,” said Cllr Suter.

“A community group has already been formed, which will include Councillor Kay Ridout and myself, to help formulate the ideas and liaise with villagers and the council.”

The near life-size silhouettes of a ‘Tommy’ first emerged in the run-up to celebrations marking 100 years since the end of the First World War. Several villages in Dorset have left them standing as permanent memorials, including Okeford Fitzpaine, Durweston and Kington Magna.

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